City Councilman Shank: “More Transparency and Open Communication are Needed in Havre de Grace”

From Havre de Grace City Councilman Mitch Shank, a candidate for Mayor in the city’s May 3 election:

As a candidate for Mayor of our City of Havre de Grace I would immediately institute several changes for the benefit of our citizens. Under the new Shank Administration we would set up a voluntary “Breaking News Alert” e-mail to be distributed to all citizens who sign up for this information release. Information contained in the weekly e-mail would include and not be limited to: City Council Agendas, dates and times of all commission and public meetings, public hearings, biographies on any new employees and featured “Meet Our Current City Employee Article”. Additional e-mail alerts could be used in special situations. The format and information provided would evolve as we receive feedback and requests from our citizens.

All City Council meeting notes would be added to our city web site when prepared in draft form so our citizens can prepare for our next meeting. Additionally, all public meetings minutes, resolutions, ordinances, bi-weekly check runs and other pertinent information as requested by our citizens would also appear on the web site.

A much needed change to our City Council meeting agenda would permit our citizens to make comments prior to resolutions and proclamations being presented. The city council meetings are the business of the people and they should be permitted to speak first on important matters and not have to wait until the end of the meetings. Any citizen who poses a question would receive a prompt answer. The question, as well as the answer will appear on our city’s web site and in our new e-mail alerts. How many times have we had a citizen ask a question and the administration never provide an answer? Citizens who ask straight forward questions are entitled to straight forward answers.

Instead of our Mayor leading us in “The Pledge of Allegiance” and choosing someone to lead us in prayer, we would rotate both assignments among six councilpersons and the Mayor. For example, if there is an Eagle Scout in the audience he would be given the opportunity to lead us in “The Pledge of Allegiance”.

I believe that we need more citizen participation during the critical budget process. My recommendation would allow the Mayor and each City Council member to appoint one citizen to a Citizen Budget Advisory Board. After the City Council members asked their questions about each department’s budget request, the appointed citizens would be permitted to ask and have their concerns addressed.

These are just a few examples of what a Shank Administration will bring to City Hall for the benefit of all our citizens. Vote Tuesday May 3 for Mitch Shank for Mayor at St. Patrick’s Banquet Hall on Pennington Ave. “Tax Payers First – A New Direction for Havre de Grace”.

Mitch Shank
Candidate for Mayor of Havre de Grace